SA Grain

The 2026/2027 production season is shaping up to be one of the most challenging planning environments producers have faced in recent years. Commodity prices remain under pressure, while input costs continue to be high, with additional uncertainty surrounding global geopolitical developments and the potential influence of an El Niño weather pattern. Under these conditions, careful […]

Atrasien, wat in 1957 bekendgestel is, is sedert die 1960’s reeds ’n staatmakeronkruiddoder in Suid-Afrika vir die beheer van eenjarige breëblaaronkruidsoorte (dikotiele) in sekere grasgewasse soos mielies en suikerriet. S-metolachloor is in 1996 bekendgestel as die 1,5 keer meer aktiewe S-isomeer van sy voorganger, metolachloor (R-isomeer), wat in 1974 die lig gesien het. Dit beheer […]

Crop rotation systems improve weed management by offering a wider range of herbicide options when used correctly. Alternating chemicals with different mechanisms of action enables producers to target a broader spectrum of weeds and reduce selection pressure for herbicide resistance. These mechanisms are easy to track using the Herbicide Resistance Action Committee (HRAC) global herbicide […]

The recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks highlighted the far-reaching consequences that biological threats can have on South African agriculture. While the disease affected livestock directly, the outbreak exposed vulnerabilities in surveillance systems, traceability, diagnostics, communication, and coordinated response mechanisms. These lessons extend well beyond the livestock industry and offer valuable insights for the grain industry. […]

For a decade leading up to 2019, South Africa’s poultry industry was in distress. Year after year, production declined while imports continued to grow, placing immense pressure on local producers and threatening one of agriculture’s most important value chains. The consequences reached far beyond poultry farms. As local production contracted, grain consumption declined, investment dried […]

In die Reitz-distrik is daar twee produsente wat reeds die voordele van ’n skaap-lusern-mielie-wisselbou­stel­sel ervaar: Willie Roux en Neil Claassen (Graan SA-Raadslid). Beide hierdie produsente is dit eens dat hierdie stelsel hul winsgewendheid verhoog het. Hulle het nie sonder rede na hierdie wisselbou­stelsel oorgeskakel nie. Dit is gedoen omdat daar proble­me in die boerderye ervaar […]

Scenario planning is a way of preparing for more than one possible outcome, rather than relying on a single expectation of how the season will unfold. When reading up on plans and the importance of making and having some form of plan, a distinct trend emerges. Firstly, it is important to have a well-thought-through and […]

Produsente het oor die afgelope paar jaar ’n drastiese styging in insetkoste ervaar. Alhoewel daar hoofsaaklik gefokus word op die direkte koste soos saad, kunsmis en onkruiddoder, bekruip die vaste koste almal stil-stil. Meganisasiekoste raak ’n rugbreker vir heelparty produsente – om trekkers te vervang is ’n uiters moeilike en gevaarlike finansiële besluit. In Grafiek […]

Die gebruik van gevorderde tegnologie in vandag se moderne boerdery het ’n gegewe geword, maar dit kom saam met groot kapitaalbesteding wat skuld ’n onvermydelike realiteit maak. Met stygende insetkoste, klimaatskommeling en wisselvallige markpryse, kan die boerdery se winsgewendheid vinnig onder druk geplaas word. ’n Boerdery met ’n gesonde balansstaat en hoë netto boerdery-inkomste het […]

Trekkers is bekend daarvoor dat hulle in die stoor staan en breek. ’n Werkende trekker word in die stoor geparkeer en as dit weer planttyd of strooptyd is, is hy morsdood – of die pro­bleme begin in die land. Hoekom gebeur dit? Dikwels kan dit voorkom word as produsen­te net meer aandag gegee het tydens […]